The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba this Friday met His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, a member of the Dubai ruling family.
The prince led a delegation from the United Arabs Emirates to Uganda.
The meeting, according to a communication from the CDF’s office, aimed at strengthening Uganda’s military cooperation with the UAE.
“UAE is a vital trading partner and a strategic ally of Uganda, reaffirming the significance of the bond between the two nations,” the message further read.
Today’s meeting took place at the Special Forces Command Headquarters in Entebbe, was attended by Uganda’s Air Force commander, Maj Gen Charles Okidi.
Uganda and UAE enjoy cordial and mutually beneficial relations, characterized by several MoUs signed in various fields and exchange of high-level visits.
Gen Muhoozi in a photo with Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum
In 2023, Muhoozi, who also doubles as the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, visited the UAE where he met with counterterrorism experts.
Uganda opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2007, while the UAE embassy was opened in Kampala in 2011.
According to the Uganda Export Promotion Board, UAE is the leading market for exports from Uganda within the Middle East and Gulf countries, accounting for approximately 94% of all exports from Uganda.
There has been a significant surge in exports to the UAE from US$300 million in 2018 to US$2 Billion by 2022.
Similarly, there has been a surge in Foreign Direct Investment to Uganda from the UAE of approximately US$ 3 billion and imports from UAE to Uganda are estimated at US$ 1.1 billion.
Uganda’s primary export products to the UAE include gold, fish and coffee.
Recently, the Ugandan and the UAE governments have recognized the mutual trade and business opportunities, thus strengthening relationships and goodwill.